Abstract
Sphingolipids as an important regulator play a critical role in the cell biological functions. Among them, ceramide (Cer) and sphingosine (Sph) induce apoptosis and inhibit cell proliferation; on the contrary sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) promotes cell survival and proliferation. The balance between ceramide/sphingosine and S1P forms a so-called "sphingolipid-rheostat", which decides the cell fate. Sphingosine kinases, which catalyze the phosphorylation of sphingosine to S1P, are critical regulators of this balance. Here, we review the role of sphingosine kinase 1 (SphK1) in regulating fundamental biological processes and tumorigenesis and the potential of SphK1 as a new target for cancer therapeutics.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Review
MeSH terms
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Amino Alcohols / pharmacology
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Animals
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Apoptosis / drug effects
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Cell Movement / drug effects
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Cell Proliferation / drug effects
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Ceramides / metabolism
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Enzyme Activation
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Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology*
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Humans
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Lysophospholipids / metabolism
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Neoplasms* / metabolism
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Neoplasms* / pathology
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Neovascularization, Pathologic
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Phosphorylation
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Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor) / antagonists & inhibitors*
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Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor) / metabolism
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Sphingosine / analogs & derivatives
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Sphingosine / metabolism
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Thiazoles / pharmacology
Substances
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4-(4-(4-chloro-phenyl)thiazol-2-ylamino)phenol
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Amino Alcohols
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Ceramides
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Enzyme Inhibitors
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Lysophospholipids
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N-methyl-5-(4'-pentylphenyl)-2-aminopent-4-ene-1,3-diol
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Thiazoles
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sphingosine 1-phosphate
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Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor)
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sphingosine kinase
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Sphingosine